Grant: Operating Grant

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a herpesvirus that infects most people and is maintained for life through a combination of latent and lytic modes of infection. EBV latent infection can promote the development of several types of lymphomas and carcinomas due to its ability to promote cell proliferation. EBNA1 is the only viral protein expressed in all forms of EBV latency and EBV-induced tumours and contributes to the induced cell proliferation. In addition, recent evidence show that small RNA molecules (microRNAs) made by the virus and the cell have important roles in EBV latent infection and EBV-induced cancers. We are investigating how EBNA1 affects viral and cellular microRNAs and how these microRNAs contribute to the functions of EBNA1. When the virus switches to lytic infection, host cell proteins are manipulated to arrest cell proliferation at one point in the cell cycle while preventing cell death. We have identified several EBV proteins involved in this manipulation. We will further investigate how they and other EBV proteins alter normal cellular responses in ways to promote EBV production. Our studies should provide insight into how to inhibit EBV infection and treat EBV-associated cancers.